“A real hero is someone who helps animals or anyone who can’t help themselves.”
Before The Adventures of Marsha and Martha became a book series, it was simply a dream my twin sister and I carried in our hearts since we were young.
When we were 10 years old, we lived in Paraguay, in a beautiful house surrounded by exotic fruit trees we’ve never known before. But what made our home unforgettable were the capuchin monkeys that lived in the six mango trees right in our big backyard. These weren’t pets. They were wild, spirited, and free, and somehow, they trusted us.
We didn’t tell anyone about them. Not a soul. We were afraid someone might try to take them, and to us, they were more than animals, they were family. Every day after school, we’d rush to the trees to see them. We called them by name, played with them, and watched as the mama monkey cared for her baby. Those quiet afternoons under the mango trees became some of the happiest moments of our childhood!
Years later, I knew I had to write about that time—not exactly as it happened, but through the eyes of two brave little girls who reminded me of us. The Monkey Fortress became that story.
In this first book of the series, Marsha and Martha discover that not all is as it seems in their new home. When their beloved monkeys vanish—and so does someone they trust—the girls are faced with a mystery they can’t ignore. They have no choice but to follow their hearts, trust their instincts, and step into a journey of courage, love, and fierce determination.
Just like the real memories that inspired it, this book is about more than animals. It’s about trust, truth, and protecting what you love most. It’s about the special bond sisters share, and the quiet strength that lives in every child.
I wrote The Monkey Fortress in honor of those monkeys who once watched us from the treetops, and for every child who’s ever felt a deep love for animals, nature, and adventure. With love,
Marsha
